100 Act Challenge to Inspire Connection

street art

I’m taking a hiatus from my RAOKing all over Seattle (read about my personal project in my PERSONAL page) but when I do have moments of random inspiration like a few weeks ago I seek to act on them. One night I had the hardest time falling asleep and after a few short hours of broken sleep, at 4AM I got up, put on clothes, and went for a walk. Taking my chalk along with me, I remembered how much I liked being awake walking around Queen Anne at this hour. Peaceful yet a bit melancholy, the darkness and stillness of our neighborhood quiets my mind and gives me solace.

I felt very appreciative in this moment in the darkness. For being not able to sleep that night, for being content in my life at this point, for being able to see myself as just a part of the intricate machine that is our world.

Hopefully some of the words I wrote on the sidewalks helped another to keep their thoughts and heart in the moment and not carry the baggage of the past or future with them for that day.

And of course (after no rain for a month) the clouds moved in around the afternoon and rain drops washed these words away as if they never were there. As it should be.

I love you – keep focused on the now – keep humble and appreciative of your days.

Hoping to get a few double takes with these signs as people pass them by during their morning commute. Nothing like a little surprise positivity in a space usually reserved for signs listing regulations and rules.

Hung up all around my favorite neighborhood – Queen Anne in Seattle!

Have a great day! Remember to keep smiling and be nice to strangers 🙂 and know that I love you so much!

The early morning before Seattle wakes up is my favorite time of the day. This morning I left my house at 4:00 AM and drew this chalk mural under the aurora bridge a couple hundred paces away from the Fremont Troll.

The quote reads, “Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid” (it is an anonymous quote, however many people believe Albert Einstein coined it – he didn’t).

I hope we can stop judging people by our social norms and start appreciating individual talent and passion. We are constantly comparing one another to traits that can represent only a fraction of our society . Everyone has something to offer; everyone can be a genius in their own right. Let’s start encouraging that type of thinking instead of marking off boundaries on what is “successful” and what is not.

Sometimes we all need a little encouragement when pursuing our dreams.

Painting was found at Goodwill. I used paint markers to draw on the quote and a permanent marker for the border design. I wrote a few notes on the back to whoever finds this painting. It is located somewhere in Capitol Hill. Hopefully someone decides to take it home!

I don’t turn on the radio very much, so I can still listen to Pharrell’s Happy song for hours on end. I hope someone else enjoys it as much as I do still. Or at least cracks a smile if they happen upon these signs.

Located on a one-way street somewhere in Queen Anne.

Signs are made out of cardboard I received from QFC. Cardboard is arguably my favorite medium because it is versatile and free. If you’re in need of cardboard head to your local grocery store and ask for free boxes and they will be happy to give you some!

Sometimes you find inspiration in the most unlikely of places. Humans by nature look for connections in every day life that might apply to us personally. Some see these connections as just coincidence but I believe it is fate as well. For my second act, I hope to contribute a sign of faith to a stranger that may be looking for a sign (literally and figuratively) in times of second-guessing, self-doubt or despair.

The painting I used was bought second-hand from Goodwill. I made sure it had a solid hanging wire and was in overall good condition. By using paint markers, I could write clearly over the painting with a quote. I wanted the design to be colorful and over the top. After returning from Thailand I discovered a new love for bold colors and patterns which signifies a vibrant life to me.

On the back of the painting, I wrote a few love notes just in case it is ever flipped over or falls down.

The painting was hung (albeit rather crookedly) on a telephone pole in a non-descript location around Queen Anne.

We all need some signs to help us keep going or let us know we are on the right path. It doesn’t matter if this painting is destroyed, stolen, or brought home to hang up on someone’s wall. I just hope this sign brings clarity to someone else as it did for me while repurposing it.